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The Outreach magazine is written by people with associations with either the Church or the village. It is produced three times a year and is delivered free to every house in Oxenhope. The majority of Outreach published before Easter 2000 is replicated below;
The Vicar writes ...
God can be trusted
About the Alpha Course
Oxenhope Millennium Green
Bronte Vintage Gathering
Crisis in farming
Meeting a relative for the first time
Oxenhope Methodist Church day care for the elderlyPrevious issues of Outreach;
Easter 2000
September 2000
Christmas 2000
September 2001
September 2002
Christmas 2002
Easter 2003
"RISEN WITH CHRIST"
On the first Good Friday, Jesus was crucified. Many of his followers couldn't believe that God would let it happen. Still numb from the shock of his death, on the first Easter Day, at first they couldn't believe he was no longer in the tomb. Reminded that Jesus had said he would rise again, those who arrived at the tomb first had to try to convince the rest of the disciples. Later, Paul the arch persecutor, was convinced. St Paul is able to write in his letter to the Colossians that it was his experience that at the cross, Jesus overcame everything that evil powers could do to defeat God.
So, says St. Paul, in order to be raised to life in Christ, set your mind on things above, not just on earthly things. That could sound a bit misleading, suggesting that Christians are people who go around with their heads in the clouds, unable to help those who have their feet on the ground, good at discussing abstract ideas but no good at getting their hands dirty with practical things. Fortunately that doesn't fit the sort of people I know, whose faith inspires them to be involved with the community in all sorts of important ways. I believe we are meant to show the truth of Resurrection through what we do in our lives, not despising the world, but trying to offer the world a glimpse of what life is meant to be about.
The days leading up to Easter, especially Holy Week help us to get Jesus' death and resurrection in perspective. At St. Mary's on April 16th, Palm Sunday we receive palm crosses and recall Jesus' last journey into Jerusalem, through the crowded narrow streets. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday following, we hear the passion stories from the gospels at our 7.30 am. celebrations of Holy Communion. On Maundy Thursday evening we try to recreate the atmosphere of a Passover meal - wine (and grape juice), unleavened bread (matzah) and other special symbolic foods with a commentary. It will be in the school at 7.30 p.m. and is open to anyone who wants to come along (and many do). We shall try to make Good Friday special by holding a family service at 10 am. followed by hot cross buns, and then at 7.30 p.m. there will be a service of readings and music. On Saturday 22rd we prepare for Easter by lighting our big paschal candle, and from it, small candles to take out into our homes - and we renew our baptism promises. So, by Easter Day, April 23rd , those who have tried to follow the events which lead up to it, will have new reasons to celebrate.
A blessed Holy Week and a Happy Easter!
Bruce Grainger
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We shall begin preparation soon after Easter. Any Young People or adults interested, please contact the Vicar, 642529.
A new 12-week ALPHA course on Christian basics starts on Monday 8th May at 7.30 p.m. and each Monday at the same time - simple meal followed by video and discussion. Anyone interested is invited to ring Steve & Lucinda Smith (01535) 646943).
Stephen and I and our three children have not lived in Oxenhope for very long, and yet in the past few weeks have keenly felt your care and concern over Steve's recent medical problems. We have appreciated your prayers more than anything else because we believe in a good loving Heavenly Father who knows each one of us by name and who longs for us to come to Him with all our needs and worries, however small.
Our years in Pakistan taught us again and again how our God CAN be trusted and how He IS faithful and just and gracious towards us. Now, again, it feels like God has repeated the same truth to me over this latest concern of ill health.
Like Jesus in the wilderness, temptations come to us all - I don't struggle much with the temptation to steal or murder or dishonour my parents my battles are more subtle and in some ways all the more deadly because they quietly rob me of my peace with God. They begin to take Jesus' place in my life and He gets pushed out. Also like Jesus in the desert, I have a choice to make. Over these past days in His loving, gentle way He has reminded me of the choices. When things are tough and difficult I can curse God; I can blame God; I can ignore Him; I can seek the things from Him that I believe to be my right such as health, wealth, happiness OR I can took for God Himself. The Bible teaches us that He IS our strength, not that He gives us strength, although undoubtedly He does do that, but that He is our strength, and our deliverance. It is almighty God, the creator of the Universe, the sustainer of life, it is He who is 100% committed to us, it is He who waits for us to share our problems with Him and seek refuge in Him.
So, I'm grateful to God for your prayers. Yes, we have some answers to Steve's stroke, but more important, much more important, we have been stirred up to continue to press on in our relationship with Jesus not on OUR terms, but on HIS. He forgives our waywardness His grace and loving kindness, and our faith in Him have assured us of an eternity with God. I am not to strive or struggle to win His approval or get what I want out of Him that won't get me anywhere it will tie me in knots Jesus says to us all:
'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.' (italics mine) Matthew CH1 1 V28.
The promise in this verse is not that our troubles will disappear or that we will miraculously be healed or that our trying circumstances will alter - but that we will find rest for our souls that we will be at peace, finding within ourselves a quietness of spirit, and a serenity that only Jesus can give us. I pray for us all that we would know Jesus and in knowing, find that rest.
Lucinda Smith
I would like to begin by
thanking the person who put "Oxenhope Outreach" through our front door because
it was there that we read of the Alpha Course. Thanks also to Steve
& Lucinda Smith who lead the course in their home for their compassion and
giving of their time to help people like us to understand the Christian faith
better. May God bless you for your wonderful work!
My husband and I are fairly new Christians and this course is teaching us the basics of Christianity which is a good foundation to build our lives on. We're learning who Jesus is and why He died for us, how we can be sure of our faith, why we should read the bible and pray, how God guides us (because He has a plan for everyone's lives), who the Holy Spirit is and what he does - one thing is, He enables us to understand God's word which can be hard for beginners like us to grasp!
We still have four more
sessions to go before the course is completed and we are looking forward to each
one of them. I would encourage those unsure about Christianity
to join the next Alpha course. Then it's up to you to decide if this is what you
are seeking. Give your life to Christ and see the change He makes.
God bless...
Anthony and Kim Campbell
Following our appeal for funds in the Christmas edition of Outreach, we have received generous financial contributions from the village and from organisations outside the area. Some of these contributions have been of a practical nature, such as the offer of trees, shrubs, gate posts, gates, railway sleepers, fencing work etc.; all very welcome indeed.
In January, our MP Anne Cryer received on our behalf the symbolic cheque from the Countryside Agency. This money is of course dependent on matching funding, and we still require an estimated 19,000 to take full advantage of the grant offered by the Countryside Agency.
It is now possible for the Trust to reclaim from the Inland Revenue, the tax on all gifts made by taxpayers. This means that, provided a Gift Aid certificate is completed by the donor, we can reclaim 2.80 for every 10.00 given to the Trust. There is no longer any need for a covenant or a minimum donation. (Existing covenants will not be affected and will run as planned) Please contact David Lord on 01535 646375 for details. Now that work is ongoing we really do need further donations.
Now that Spring is here, work can commence in earnest, and our first volunteer working party on 4th March was a great success. The number of volunteers and the work achieved exceeded all our expectations - a big thank you to all involved. By the time this edition of Outreach is printed we will have had a second volunteer working party, and the first stages of Contractors' work will have been completed. Other stages will follow over the coming months.
Meanwhile members of the Gardening Club have been planning a planting scheme for later in the year. We have had many visits from interested organisations such as the Forest of Bradford, Countryside Service, Yorkshire Wildlife, and many more; all of whom have given valuable advice and offers of practical help.
It is heartening to see the interest this project has aroused. It will be a lasting amenity for the village and a fitting start for the Millennium.
Millennium Green Trustees: D. Alien, A. Bairans, C.J.C. Brown, D.E. Lord, J.G.H. Mackrell.
SAT 6th & SUN 7th MAY, HAWORTH ROAD, CULLINGWORTH
This will be the third successive year for the Bronte Vintage Gathering, now firmly established as a major attraction for this area. It will be held as usual between Cullingworth and the Flappit crossroads on the B6144. Last year's event raised £4,500 for Manorlands, three times the total for the previous year.
This year, in addition to the usual vintage tractors, commercial vehicles, cars, motorcycles (the Vicar hopes to be entering his, Ed.) and stationery engines, there will be an army display with aerial slide, assault course and paintball range. As well as miniature steam engines, we hope to have a full size steam engine from Rochdale. Bradford Bulls have a roadshow on the Saturday and the Leeds Youth Band will perform on both days. There will be a parade of horses including ponies with traps, and a demonstration of horse ploughing.
For the younger children, Bradford Magic Circle have promised to attend on one of the days, and there will be roundabouts, miniature trains and mini-motorbikes. On Saturday evening there will be Country and Western music with Tony Haley.
All in all, it promises to be another great event in aid of Manoriands. For further information and entry details, contact John and Ruth Groves on 01535 644180.
At a recent Diocesan Synod we heard firsthand about the current crisis in farming about which many of us will be well aware. Church members were urged to take the following action:
1. To write to our member of parliament, or directly to the Minister for Agriculture expressing "our concern for the plight of British farmers who are in serious financial and mental distress in their fifth year of reducing incomes and calling on the government to do all within its power to lessen the impact of a strong pound and to claim agrimonetary compensation from Europe to be paid in full to British farmers. Also to provide a long term strategy for the future of the farming industry. "
2. To support our farmers by buying British produce wherever possible, bearing in mind that it's quality is safeguarded by some of the strictest controls in the world.
3. To show our concern for farmers and their families in whatever ways we can and to pray regularly for them, making Rogation Sunday May 28th a special day of prayer for the farming community.
I have already written to our MP and invite you to do the same if you feel as I do that this is a way to promote action in parliament. We will be using special prayers at St. Mary's on Sunday May 28th.
Bruce Grainger
Some years ago I made contact with a distant relative whose grandparents had emigrated from Keighley to Western Australia early in the 20th century. Since then we have corresponded, spoken on the telephone and faxed one another. Just before Christmas I received a letter from Laurie saying she would like to spend about a week with us, if that was convenient. One person asked how I was so certain Laurie was who she said she was. My only answer to this was that, equally, Laurie would be in a strange land with people she did not know. Knowing that we would be in the middle of renovations I warned her that she would be coming to a building site. Not to worry, she said, being used to sleeping on the floor when she visited her daughter-in-law's family in north eastern Thailand.
That was the signal for frantic activity. By the time I knew the exact date of Laurie's arrival we had two weeks in which to prepare for her accommodation and the entertainment of hordes of family who came to meet her. With the most generous, unstinting and unasked for help of family and friends we achieved this.
I set aside two days for visitors, overcatered (as we all do) and welcomed family from Gatioway, Lothian, Suffolk and all points in between. Fortunately everyone didn't arrive together so Laurie had time to talk and ask and answer lots of questions. Friends popped in too to say hello. Many people said they saw a resemblance between us and between Laurie and my aunt Nena, with home she shares the unusual name of Lerener. This proved to be quite a talking point.
In the weeks leading up to Laurie's arrival I thought long and hard on where to take her and what she might like to see - quite difficult as one week is not a very long time when there is so much to see and do. Laurie herself only mentioned York Minster, as her principal reason for coming was to meet as many family members as possible. Someone suggested taking her to Haworth. Of course, living nearby, it was the last place I thought of visiting. However, Laurie was enchanted and this enabled me to look at Haworth through a stranger's eyes. We went to Bolton Abbey where she asked where were all these dales she'd heard so much about so that entailed a short explanatory history lesson. (It was good to welcome her to St. Mary's on the Sunday - Ed.)
We took her to Ilkley Moor where she stood on top of the Cow-, baht 'at. I have had to get her a copy of the famous song; she only knew a little bit of it as her mother's memory of it was very sketchy. We showed her the chapel where her Keighley grandmother was baptised, and the area where her grandmother was raised.
On Laurie's last day with us we took her to York where we visited the Minster and crypt. It took us over an hour to wander round looking at windows, reading inscriptions and generally soaking up the atmosphere, an hour in which my husband- gratefully sat down and 'rested his eyes'. Walking down the Shambles and other narrow streets had her delightedly photographing-the old buildings. Our visit to York culminated in a trip to the Jorvik museum where she was enthralled at the presentation of the exhibition.
All too soon we put Laurie on the train for Penzance - her paternal grandfather was Cornish and she wanted to see what Cornwall was like. I have great admiration for her stamina, for after leaving the railway station, we bought some more paint and wallpaper, went home, had a light lunch and went to bed exhausted?
As I write this, Laurie is on the plane returning to her home. I hope, indeed I believe she enjoyed her visit. I certainly have no regrets.
Joyce Samuels
The Oxenhope Methodist Church provides day-care for the elderly on both Mondays and Wednesdays (operating 48 weeks of the year). The purpose of the centres is to enable elderly people who are lonely and isolated to meet others in a friendly social setting.
Members are transported to the
Centres where necessary, and then enjoy a day which includes a cooked lunch time
meal, morning and afternoon refreshments, opportunity to
chat and socialise, play games, be entertained and go out on regular outings.
Many interesting speakers have visited the groups during the year and members
have also enjoyed participating in reminiscence work
There are five Community Day
Care Centres such as this running throughout the Oxenhope, Crossroads and
Haworth area, as well as a fortnightly drop-in centre. The Methodist Day
Care Project provides this service in partnership with Social Services, and
has been running successfully for a number of years.
We greatly value and appreciate the services of local people who volunteer to assist in the groups. If you have some time to offer on a regular or not so regular basis, in a cheerful, caring environment, or if you can occasionally come along and speak on some interesting topic, show slides, do handicrafts, play an instrument or sing we would love to hear from you.
Please contact Marilyn Howlett, Day Care Coordinator.
5 - Oxenhope Methodist Church, Women's Pleasant Hour, 2.30pm. Peter Snaith, - Local transport.
10 - St. Mary's Outing to Bolton Abbey
12 - Oxenhope Methodist Church, Women's Pleasant Hour, 2.30pm. Kath Varley
17
St. Mary's Harvest Thanksgiving
Hawksbridge Baptist Church, 2.30pm. Harvest Service, Pastor David Wilson, Sandy Lane (Under the auspices of Yks. Baptist Ass.Coast to Coast Partnership Mission, An American Baptist and his wife will attend.)
19 - Oxenhope Methodist Women's Pleasant Hour, Kathryn Whitaker - Aspects of India, 2.30pm.
20 - St. Mary's Women's Help Society, Dressmaking-A Hobby; Mrs. Judy Hazlehurst, 7.30pm.
21 - Oxenhope Gardening Club, Robert Hanna - Gardening for Conservation, (Cutting Evening)
24 - Marsh Methodist Chapel, Harvest Festival, 2.30pm.
26 - Oxenhope Methodist Women's Pleasant Hour, Joyce Kaye - Antique Class, 2.30pm.
28 - Antique and Collectors' Society, - Furniture Restoration, Rodney Kemble.
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